Meet Your Match

12. Let's Pretend We Like Each Other

It was a little after one o’clock by the time Draco landed in the alley next to the club. The main street was filled with late-night revellers moving between the establishments, but there wasn’t a queue to get in this time of night.

He made his way through the sparse crowd near the entrance, feeling the driving bass pound through him. He took a minute to let his eyes adjust to the dim light before scanning the bar. He didn’t see any of them, so he made a slow circuit of the dance floor. The space was packed with bodies. The air was thrumming with the music and the energy of the dancers. He let the sensations wash over him.

He spotted Thomas and Shannon first. They were an imposing couple when she was in heels, both over six feet tall. They were completely wrapped up in each other, oblivious to the outside world, and he smiled, feeling the first stirrings of warmth in his fingertips. 

He saw Janelle next, pressed up against Nick. Her arms were around his neck, and his hands were at her hips, guiding her as she moved in front of him. 

A flash of hair drew Draco’s eye, and his mouth fell open when he recognised Granger dancing next to them. Her curls fell around her in loose ringlets, bouncing as she moved to the music. She leaned forward slightly, and he realised that what he’d first thought was an impossibly short black dress actually ended in another pair of tiny shorts. As she swung her hips back and forth, the curves of her arse cheeks were clearly visible protruding from the bottom. His mouth filled with saliva. This woman and her shorts were going to put him into an early grave. 

He didn’t even notice the warmth spreading through his chest.

A new song started up, and Janelle detached herself from Nick, rushing over to grab Granger by the hips and yank her close. She and Janelle danced together, singing along to the lyrics and laughing. As he watched, Janelle put a hand on Granger’s back and pushed her forward until she was folded in half at the waist and her hair draped over her face. Her hands wrapped around the ankle straps of her stiletto heels as she moved. Then, she arched her back, flipping her hair up and bringing her hands to her knees. She ground her arse into Janelle’s crotch, a sultry smile playing across her lips. As the chorus finished, she straightened up, her back still tight to Janelle’s front. He watched as she trailed her hands from her knees up her thighs, along her hips, over her breasts in their tight bodice, until her arms were stretched over her head.

Draco was spellbound.

The girls separated and danced side-by-side. Granger’s head was tilted back and her eyes were closed. She moved her body in a perfect sinuous rhythm, looking utterly euphoric. She was completely unburdened, uninhibited. Free.

The darkness crept in from every corner of Draco’s mind. He could feel it crawling over his thoughts like roaches.

He wanted to have that. He wanted to take it from her. He wanted to pour every ounce of his pain and anger and violence and fear into her and have his release. He wanted to empty his despair into her and be free. He wanted to ruin her. He wanted to be free.

It wasn’t fair. She was right there, dancing so effortlessly it was like the music was moving through her. Looking so perfect, so golden. How was it that the lights in the club seemed to make her glow from within? How did they create that glimmer that—

His eyes widened in shock as he realised what he was seeing.

Her magic.